Walton-Verona junior Trey Bonne is congratulated by competitors after winning the high jump during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
James Weber/Enquirer

NCC junior Maria Kinnett reacts after anchoring her team to the win in the 4x100 relay during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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St. Henry senior Collin Strasburger, 1225 left, and Walton-Verona senior Luke Lawson, 1252, in the 110 hurdles during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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Walton-Verona seniors Luke Lawson, left, and Matthew Lodestrok run the 110 hurdles, which Lawson won and Lodestro finished third, during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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Bellevue sophomore Breanna Jones, left, and St. Henry senior Catherine Henry run the 100 during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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Bishop Brossart senior Allison Schultz, left, and NCC junior Carrigan Matteoli run the 100 during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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NCC junior Jenna Riley hands off to sophomore Ellie Enslen in NCC"s win in the 4x100 relay during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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Beechwood senior Elijah McKenney cheers on his teammate after handing off in the 4x100 relay during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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Bellevue senior Seth Evers and St. Henry junior Hayden run to the finish in the 400 during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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NCC sophomore Sarah Bertsch, 407, and Brossart sophomore Maria Klocke 154, run the 3200 during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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Lloyd eighth-grader Jake Davidson with his state championship hardware in the pole vault during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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Luke Lawson (holding trophy), Trey Bonne and Walton-Verona teammates celebrate their team state runner-up finish during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.
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Newport Central Catholic sophomore Sydney Duke, left, and Walton-Verona eighth-grader Olivia Lightner run the 4x800 relay during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.
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Walton-Verona sophomore Ashley Akins finishes her team's state title win in the 4x800 relay during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.
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Walton-Verona runners McCall Ponzer, Caileigh Waters, Ashley Akins and Olivia Lightner celebrate their state title in the 4x800 during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.
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Bishop Brossart junior Joe Curtsinger takes the handoff in the 4x800 relay during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.
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Walton-Verona junior Johnny Martin, right, and Collegiate senior Umar Nasim battle to the finish in the 4x800 during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.
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Walton-Verona junior Johnny Martin crosses the finish line to win the 4x800 relay during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.
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Walton-Verona junior Johnny Martin celebrates after finishing the team's win in the 4x800 relay during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.
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Louisville Collegiate senior Umar Nasim, right, congratulates Walton-Verona junior Johnny Martin during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.
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St. Henry freshman Mackenzie Kent, left, and Dayton sophomore Lydia Workman clear the 100 hurdles during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.
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Walton-Verona senior Luke Lawson celebrates after winning the 110 hurdles during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.(Photo: James Weber/Enquirer)Buy Photo

LEXINGTON - Some sports are easier to perform in than others while recovering from a torn ACL in your knee.

Sprinting and jumping hurdles would seem to be close to the hardest end of the scale, but good luck telling that to Luke Lawson.

Lawson, a Walton-Verona senior, repeated as KHSAA Class 1A state champion in both hurdling events, the 110-meter and 300-meter, May 17 at the University of Kentucky He won both races about 10 months after tearing the ACL in his right knee during a soccer practice.

After both races, he let out a burst of emotion including a primal scream, and found family and supporters in the stands and signaled to them.

“Being mentally tough,” he said. “My goal was to beat myself, not worry about the others. It was all in my head, I didn’t worry about the other people.”

Lawson doesn’t wear a brace on his knee and the surgery scar is barely noticeable. Lawson was ready for the start of the season in March.

“I had absolutely no doubt,” he said. “Mama told me if anybody can do it you can. I’m back to where I am, I think. (The doctor) said you have a minimum of six months to get back. I got back, prayed a lot, worked out a lot, did everything I could to get back to where I was last year. I think I’m here.”

Walton-Verona won five event championships, four on the boys side, part of a record-setting night for the Bearcats. The boys team finished second overall to Danville.

Junior Trey Bonne won the high jump and helped the Bearcats win the 4x800 relay, which was capped by junior Johnny Martin coming from behind in the final lap.

“The weather was bad but it was breathtaking,” Bonne said. “I’m happy with all my performances. It was a good day. We’re all really close.”

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St. Henry senior Ethan Snyder runs the 1600 during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.(Photo: James Weber/Enquirer)

Hers wasn’t quite as serious, but still painful, as the Crusader sprinter dislocated her left shoulder during a sprint earlier this season. She was out of action for two weeks but that didn’t stop her from helping her team win state titles.

St. Henry won the girls team championship for the 11th time in team history May 17, their first crown since winning four in a row from 2012-15. Laudenslayer helped St. Henry win the 4x400 relay to close the meet. The Crusaders, with junior Natalie Pope anchoring, needed every runner in peak form because they won the overall team title by 1.8 points and were only four points ahead of fourth place Newport Central Catholic. If they hadn't won the 4x400 they would have not won the title.

Freshman Mackenzie Kent and junior Audrey McCoy joined the foursome.

A Northern Kentucky team has won the girls 4x400 for 17 straight years.

Long after the race, Laudenslayer was vomiting in a trash can and holding a big bag of ice on her injured left shoulder.

“I dislocated it while sprinting. It popped right back in,” she said. “I was thinking (today) was the last high school race I was going to run, so I wanted to give it my all, and I knew if I gave it to Natalie she would get the job done. It’s a great way to end it. I’m going to miss this team. It’s been an amazing four years. I have a lot of good friends and I’m going to make sure to come back and watch them win again.”

St. Henry has won the 4x400 four straight years, with Laudenslayer running in all of them.

“Our senior, this is her fourth consecutive winning the 4x4 at state,” said Kent. “We wanted that for her, we wanted that for each other and that was a big part of it. You know when Ellie throws up she gave it her all.”

The Crusaders won the team title with balance. The relay was the only event championship the team won. Pope finished top-five in all three solo sprint races (100, 200 and 400). Senior Malia Heck finished top-five in both distance races (1600, 3200). Kent, sophomore Jessica Judge and senior Lily Marino won solo medals. Laudenslayer, sophomore sister Sophia Laudenslayer, Judge and McCoy finished second in the 4x200. The Laudenslayers, junior Kerenza Kent and junior Sarah Brennen were sixth in the 4x100.

“We all decided to go out there and no matter what happens, run our best, and I think we did that,” McCoy said. “It’s a good feeling. The pain will go away, but the victory will stay forever.”

Locals won all four girls relay races. Walton-Verona started the day by winning the 4x800. Newport Central Catholic claimed the 4x100 and 4x200, with junior anchor Maria Kinnett coming from behind down the stretch in both races.

A balanced attack led St. Henry to third place overall in boys, led by senior Ethan Snyder, who won the state title in the 3,200 meters.

Bellevue senior Seth Evers won his second state championship in the 200 meters, and third all-time, and finished second in the 100 and 400. Lloyd eighth-grader Jake Davidson took the pole vault title.

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Nick Veneman of Highlands sprints to the finish in the Boys 100 Meter Dash at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.(Photo: Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)

SATURDAY RECAP: The KHSAA state track and field meets concluded Saturday with action in Class 2A and 3A.

In Class 2A boys, Highlands senior Nick Veneman had three medals, including a third and a sixth in the sprints. Highlands won five medals overall.

In the girls meet, Highlands medaled in eight events. Sophomore Adriana Muntaner had two solo medals. Maria Broering, Savannah Brady and Maggie Schroeder also had two. Highlands finished as runner-up in the girls 4x800, despite breaking the previous state record in the event.

Holmes’ top finish was by senior Ahmad Sherman in the 300 hurdles, where he was 15th.

Scott had a trio of 11th place finishes: Summer Secrist in girls high jump, Dyllan Hasler in boys 1600 and the boys 4x400.

In 3A, Northern Kentucky boys athletes had eight state medals. Simon Kenton senior Kyle Mastin had the top performance, finishing second in the 3200. In the girls meet, Northern Kentucky had 12 medals, including three runner-up finishes. Cooper senior Grace Pavek and Notre Dame senior Erika Nageleisen each won two medals.

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Conner's Hunter Mitchell stays with the rain-soaked pack midway through the Boys 800 Meter Run at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer

Jacob Weis (870) of Cooper and Lukas Rumminger (853) of Conner make the turn into the backstretch while running in the Boys 4x800 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer

Emma Hopkins of Dixie Heights clears another hurdle as she runs in the Girls 100 Meter Hurdles at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Michael Hodge of Covington Catholic jumps the hurdles with intent for the Colonels in the Boys 110 Meter Hurdles at the at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Somon Kenton's Kiegan Nichols (far left) and Campbell County's Owen Ponting battle the hurdles and the competition in the Boys 110 Meter Hurdles at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Owen Ponting of Campbell County powers over the final hurdle in the Boys 110 Meter Hurdles at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Drew Hummel of Covington Catholic clears a hurdle as he runs in the Boys 110 Meter Hurdles at the at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Ryle's Briana Smith hands off the baton to the waiting hand of Maddie Bloemer in the Girls 4x200 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Cooper's Adam Reed (back) passes off the baton to Jeremiah Lee as they run in the Boys 4x200 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Conner's Will Hanak and Campbell County's Christian Slone hit the trail for the Boys 1600 Meter Run at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Ryle's Briana Smith clears the finish line for the Raiders in the Girls 4x100 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Covington Catholic's Drew Hummel and Ryle's Leo Bouldin run and jump the Boys 300 Meter Hurdles amid the raindrops at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Grace Meiser of Campbell County takes the rain and the final lap of the Girls 800 Meter Run in stride at the 2018 KHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Karli Baioni of Highlands sprints the corner of the track in the Girls 4x200 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Karli Baioni and Bella Workman make the baton exchange for Highlands as they run in the Girls 4x200 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Kaitlyn Meyer (348) of Highlands and Gabby Kallmeyer (582) of Scott head down the backstretch in the Girls 4x200 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Ethan Fraser of Scott readies the baton handoff to his runningmate Dylan McDaniels in the Boys 4x200 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Scott's Nathaniel Makovore kicks it into high gear as he runs the Boys 4x200 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Cole Kendall of Highlands looks on as he awaits taking his spot on the blocks for the start of the Boys 4x200 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
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Cole Kendall of Highlands fires out of the block for Highlands while running the Boys 4x200 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer

Liam Ehrman and Sawyer Depp of Highlands work their timing for the baton exchange in the Boys 4x200 Meter relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 19, 2018.
Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer

Nick Veneman carries the baton in the last leg of the Boys 4x200 Meter relay for Highlands at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 18, 2018.
Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer

Logan Guy, Matei Gutierrez and Simon Valentine of Highlands work the baton handoff in the Mixed 2x200 Meter relay Unified at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 18, 2018.
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Maria Broering of Highlands carries the baton into the backstretch in the Girls 4x800 Meter Relay at the 2018 KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, May 18, 2018.
Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer

THURSDAY RECAP: On a night with a 90-minute weather delay following a deluge of rain, Northern Kentucky athletes took home an ark of hardware in the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field championships Thursday night at the University of Kentucky.

Walton-Verona won five event championships, four on the boys side, part of a record-setting night for the Bearcats. The boys team finished second overall to Danville.

Senior Luke Lawson, who tore the ACL In his right knee last July, won both hurdle events for the second straight year. Junior Trey Bonne won the high jump and helped the Bearcats win the 4x800 relay, which was capped by junior Johnny Martin coming from behind in the final lap.

A balanced attack led St. Henry to third place overall, led by senior Ethan Snyder, who won the state title in the 3,200 meters.

Bellevue senior Seth Evers won his second state championship in the 200 meters, and third all-time, and finished second in the 100 and 400.

Lloyd eighth-grader Jake Davidson took the pole vault title.

The area took home seven state championships on the boys side and 40 total medals.

St. Henry won the girls state team championship, winning the 4x400 at the end to clinch the title. Natalie Pope anchored that race and had three top-five finishes in solo sprint races.

Locals won all four relay races. Walton-Verona started the day by winning the 4x800. Newport Central Catholic claimed the 4x100 and 4x200, with junior anchor Maria Kinnett coming from behind down the stretch in both races.

Northern Kentucky girls won 38 total medals.

Here are all the 1A medalists:

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Walton-Verona celebrates its state title in the 4x800 during the KHSAA 1A track and field championships May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky, Lexington KY.(Photo: James Weber/Enquirer)

NCC junior Maria Kinnett reacts after anchoring her team to the win in the 4x100 relay during the KHSAA Class 1A state track and field meet May 17, 2018 at the University of Kentucky.(Photo: James Weber/Enquirer)